Mizoram has become the first state in the country to operationalize an Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) Microsite in its capital city, Aizawl. The National Health Authority (NHA) had previously announced the ambitious “100 Microsites” project to expedite the adoption of ABDM throughout India, and Mizoram’s accomplishment marks a significant step towards this goal.
Under this initiative, all healthcare facilities in Mizoram, including private clinics, small hospitals, and laboratories, will be equipped to offer digital health services to patients. This transformation is set to revolutionize healthcare delivery by leveraging technology to provide secure and efficient health services.
CEO of NHA, while emphasizing the importance of the project, stated, “The 100 Microsite project under ABDM is a very important initiative for reaching out to the bulk of small and medium-scale healthcare providers in the private sector. The concept of Microsites aims to provide a robust push for healthcare digitization efforts across the nation. The dedication of the Mizoram team has made Aizawl the first ABDM Microsite in India, and NHA anticipates similar enthusiastic responses from other state teams.”
At the launch event held in Aizawl on 23rd August 23, 2023, the Additional Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, Mizoram, highlighted the belief that digitization of health services can significantly contribute to achieving universal health coverage. She stated, “With digital services now available at our health facilities and secure access to digital health records, patients will reap the greatest benefits. Our teams have diligently studied the ABDM enablement process and have selected an implementation partner to operationalize our first Microsite in Aizawl. We are fully prepared to implement this mission and ensure that the Aizawl Microsite sets the benchmark as the first ABDM Microsite in the country.“
ABDM Microsites are geographically defined regions where focused efforts are made to onboard small and medium-scale private healthcare providers into the ABDM framework. State Mission Directors of ABDM will oversee the major implementation efforts, with financial resources and overall guidance provided by NHA. An interfacing agency will have an on-ground team dedicated to reaching out to healthcare providers in the area. Their role includes raising awareness about the benefits of ABDM, assisting service providers in joining the core registries under ABDM, and promoting the use of ABDM-enabled digital solutions for regular clinical documentation. Patients will have the ability to link the health records generated at these facilities with their Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHAs) and access and share these records using any ABDM-enabled Personal Health Record (PHR) application on their mobile phones.
Prior to Mizoram’s achievement, NHA oversaw Microsite pilots in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Surat. The insights and experiences gained from these pilots have been integrated into the broader structure of the “100 Microsites” project under ABDM.
Apart from Mizoram, several other states, including Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh, have made substantial progress in implementing ABDM Microsites. It is anticipated that additional Microsites will become operational in the coming weeks, further advancing the reach and impact of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.
